Sinner finally ends Alcaraz curse with clinical victory

World No 1 beats fierce rival to win his first Wimbledon title

- KIERAN JACKSON

At the end, Jannik Sinner raised his arms aloft after a victory which must have felt like some time coming. The 23-year-old, in his typical unostentatious manner, crouched down in reflection before heading to his euphoric team in the east stand. Unlike the most devastating of defeats five weeks ago on the red brick of Roland Garros, when three championship points passed in a flash, the Italian had his crowning moment of the season yesterday evening in southwest London.

No longer bewitched by his adversary, Sinner claimed his first win over Carlos Alcaraz in six attempts and 20 months. The world No 1 had finally triumphed against his biggest foe. Despite dropping the first set here, the Italian kept his composure, stopped Alcaraz’s three-peat quest and 24-win streak in its tracks and prevailed 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Of course, for some, it is a result with a bitter taste. It would be remiss not to mention Sinner’s three-month doping ban earlier this year, suspiciously timed so he did not miss a major. Some argue, therefore, that Sinner should not even be playing this fortnight in SW19. And they may well be right. But the “inadvertent contamination” of an anabolic steroid was seen by most as purely accidental. A costly mistake, but one in which Sinner’s integrity remained intact.

And so, scalpel-gate or not, Italy has its first Wimbledon champion, male of female. Sinner has his first non-hard-court Grand Slam. And tennis has its next generation rivalry, thrust into the present day, with Sinner the deserved victor in their latest spellbinding duel.

“It’s so special, seeing my parents here, my brother, my whole team, it’s amazing,” Sinner said, on court, after the presentation ceremony.